Friday, November 16, 2007

A stark reminder of what this authoritarian government stands for. This is their democracy. This is their idea of justice. This is their 'enlightened moderation'. When, I ask, when will we finally see the light..?

KARACHI, Nov 15: A group of teachers took the initiative of leading a peaceful protest demonstration at the University of Karachi on Thursday against the imposition of emergency in the country and other laws implemented with the proclamation issued by Gen Pervez Musharraf on Nov 3.Holding a banner calling for the restoration of the constitution and the judiciary and lifting of curbs on the media, around 15 teachers led by Dr Riaz Ahmad took out a rally from the Arts lobby at 1pm and walked silently in the corridors and compounds of various departments up to the main Silver Jubilee gate of the university.Upon reaching the gate, the protesters wearing black armbands chanted slogans against dictatorship and censorship, like 'Fauji Junta, Na Manzoor'.A majority of them belonged to the Department of Social Sciences. Prominent among them were Dr Abdul Qadeer (Applied Physics), Hina Khan (General History) and Dr Zahoorul Hasan Babar (Philosophy).A handful of students passing by in overcrowded buses joined in the protest but the others looked bewildered on seeing the teachers registering their protest.Earlier, the United Teachers' Forum organised a lecture on 'Struggles against Draconian Laws' at the Audio-Visual Centre where M.B. Naqvi was the chief guest.Mr Naqvi informed the audience about the gravity of the crises confronting the country at the moment and warned that its future was at stake if inaction remained their virtue.Mr Ahmad urged students to debate ideas among themselves and hold peaceful protest on any issue which they felt strongly about.A meeting of the protesting teachers and students interested in joining in their protest would be held on campus on Saturday. Footage of the event would be shown in the Audio-Visual Centre on Monday.

NEW YORK ( NYLJ) Nov. 14, 2007 - About 700 lawyers rallied yesterday afternoon in front of state Supreme Court in Manhattan to show support for lawyers and judges in Pakistan battling for the restoration of the rule of law. Addressing the throng that poured down the courthouse steps and spilled onto the sidewalk, Barry Kamins, president of the New York City Bar Association, said the rally was called "to embolden" the Pakistani lawyers and judges who have been "physically manning barricades and trying to face down an entire army." Kathryn Madigan, president of the New York State Bar Association, also called for lawyers to speak "with one voice in defense of the rule of law" in Pakistan. And Catherine Christian, president of the New York County Lawyers' Association, said Pakistani lawyers "are showing the world what it means to be a lawyer - fighting for liberty and an independent legal system."

The activism continues, adding a new element – 'teach-ins'. Activist Naeem Sadiq and Sahar Shafaat (a political science professor based in the U.S., currently in Karachi) went to Lyceum Karachi today to give a lecture on the current situation in Pakistan. They spoke to about 30 A Levels students, focusing on the disparities in Pakistan, and what can be done about them. "The lecture made a very clear suggestion that students engage in peaceful protest as a way of resisting martial law."

Syeda Abida Hussain, former Pakistani Ambassador to the United States, former Cabinet Member and Member of Parliament, and presently a member of the Central Working Committee of Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party, was arrested under orders of the present regime in Pakistan earlier today for engaging in the agitation for the restoration of democracy and the rule of law. Some hours later, she was brought back by the police to her residence, which has been declared a sub-jail. She is under indefinite house arrest and is confined to her room and back verandah, with policewomen posted outside her bedroom door, and policemen posted at the gate. All pro-democracy forces in Pakistan today, including the Pakistan People's Party, hope for the speedy release of all political prisoners, lawyers and members of the judiciary, a restoration of the 1973 Constitution, the reinstatement of the dismissed Chief Justice and the dozens of judges that were dismissed along with him. We also desire the repeal of the present administration's extension of the Army Act to apply to all civilians who, if now publicly say or are overhead saying anything critical of the Army or any member of the Armed Forces, are subject to arrest and trial by military courts, in addition to the repeal of the ban on the independent TV channels. All of the foregoing are prerequisites to holding free and fair elections.

Here's how HRCP director I.A. Rehman puts it: "The whole transition to democracy is meaningless under emergency. Even elections will bring nothing for this country under the present circumstances. In my opinion emergency has made autocracy in Pakistan even more autocratic. It is true that before the promulgation of emergency Musharraf was already ruling the country by his own choice, but now all the powers have gone to him. He alone is responsible to decide." - http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=40071 – The text is worth reading in full, for the clarity IAR brings to the issue, as always. The bottom line: "The real victims of this coup are the people of Pakistan. When you discriminate against the judiciary and gag the media both suffer, but the ultimate victims are the people. If they do not get a good government, they suffer. Then there is no democracy without the judiciary. As for the media, it has under attack so that people cannot formulate their own opinion by getting relevant information. The government is not against these TV news channels but against what they are doing -- informing people. This is a way to put a stop to the democratic process. So democracy is the real target. All these are pillars of democracy."

It's midnight, and first assemblies to have ever completed their tenure in Pakistan are now history. A new caretaker set up is in place, headed by Senate Chairman Mohammedmian Soomro as caretaker prime minister to oversee elections in January. These elections will be meaningless under the Emergency that shows no sign of being lifted even though Musharraf has tantalizingly said that he almost stepped down. The Constitution, the judiciary, and human rights must be restored – as the Karachi University Teachers' Forum demanded in their banner (cleverly avoiding the use of the word 'emergency' or any other overt criticism).

With regard to the article "LUMS students refuse to meet BB", whichappeared in the News International's Tuesday, November 13th edition.The LUMS Student Movement asserts that it appears that the article is based on sources which have either ingeniously or ingenuously misrepresented events. All that is clear that the facts of the matter have been completely twisted, as represented in the article. Muhtarma's Benazir Bhutto's invitation for a conference with representatives of the LUMS students movement was not at all brought to the LUMS campus by any US journalists. The invitation was, in fact, brought to our students through a PPP party worker who is related to one of the student protestors at LUMS. Furthermore, the meeting with Muhtarma Benazir Bhutto was not in fact canceled on any pretext such as the final exam of the students, nor did "LUMS students refuse to meet BB". That is a gross misrepresentation of the real facts. The meeting was actually called off by the PPP itself, as it could not be fitted into the schedule for Monday night. The reason that LUMS students gave for not being able to accept the invitation at a future date was that not having a coherent student leader structure, through which nominated representatives of the student body can hold meetings with individuals or groups on behalf of the rest of the student body, it was in fact not in the power of any participant to accept the Muhtarma's invitation on behalf of the student body. However, LUMS students certainly desire an opportunity to intellectually interact with a prominent political figure of Muhtarma Benazir Bhutto's stature and would be honoured if she would accept their invitation to visit LUMS and address the student body as a whole as a guest of the Law and Politics Society of LUMS, which has organised similar seminars in the past.The purpose of our student movement is solely to rally around particular issues or principles and increase awareness of Pakistan's socio-political realities in the student community and society at large.

In response to speculation about whether LUMS students have been mobilized for protest under Mr. Imran Khan's influence, we would say that our 'mobilization' has more to do with the educational environment of our university (for our curriculum concentrates on intensive analysis of Pakistan's socio-political and legal problems and their potential solutions), than the rallying call of any political leader. We applaud Tehreek-i Insaaf's consistent and uncompromising opposition to the imposition of emergency rule and destruction of judicial autonomy.However, Mr. Imran Khan's presence at a seminar in our university, at the time of emergency rule being imposed in our country, is little more than an interesting and dramatic coincidence. The media should not interpret this as a sign that LUMS student have been mobilized through the influence of Mr. Imran Khan's directives. LUMS students have independently and spontaneously mobilized themselves due to our negative reaction to the government's treatment of national intelligentsia, the legal community and the media. and their blatant manipulation and interference in a vital pillar of state - the judiciary. Furthermore, the LUMS student movement is a non-partisan civil society intiative aiming to make a unified stand against emergency rule together with youth across Pakistan, rather then affiliating themselves with any political party per se.

(Courtesy DAWN)Lahore, Thursday: About 4,000 students rallied at Lahore’s Punjab University Thursday, a day after Imran Khan was seized there by Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) activists and turned over to police Wednesday. The flag-waving protesters chanted “We love you Imran Khan” and shouted slogans against the IJT - the student wing of the Jamaat-i-Islami party. “Our protest is against the high handedness of IJT and the police. We have gathered to express solidarity with Imran Khan, he is our national hero,” demonstrator Sarida Asghar told AFP.

Islamabad, Wednesday: Around 200 protestors,all exuberant and passionate, carried posters, wore black ribbons and waved the black flags as a sign of utter disappointment and despair in their Government's policies. The protestors, mostly students from various universities of the capital chanted anti-Musharraf slogans. They demanded a free judicial system, lifting of curbs on media and a democratically elected head of the state. A minor of 5 carried a poster on his tender shoulders saying ' GO , UNCLE MUSHARRAF GO! ' which showed that even the younger lot of pakistans population is starting to speak up against the tyrannical rule of Musharraf and his dictator-like mindset. More student protests are planned at various universities of Islamabad, and a unified massive student movement will be launched very soon with-in the capital.

KARACHI (Reuters) - Two Pakistani boys were killed on Thursday when police and gunmen exchanged fire in Karachi during protests by supporters of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, police said."Two children have been killed in firing by unidentified men in the Lyari area," said senior city police official Fayyaz Khan, referring to an impoverished city neighborhood well known as a Bhutto stronghold. The firing occurred as police chased small groups of young men protesting over President Pervez Musharraf's imposition of a state of emergency on November 3, he said.

Mr. Rashid Rehman, of the The Pakistan Post, came to LUMS during the third day of the Hunger Strike on Wednesday. He was invited by the student protesters to discuss his experiences as a student activist of the1960s. More than a 100 students and faculty members had gathered to hear him talk. Seated on a patch of grass among the student protesters(many of whom were observing the hunger strike in accordance with the daily plan throughout the week), Rashid Rehman gave an interesting lecture about the sort of student activism which defined the 1960s. Many of his anecdotes were informed by his personal structuralist and socialist perspective. The talk was most enjoyable, and although a wide variety of leftist, rightist and centre-leaning students were represented in the diverse crowd of students present, the students all appeared to agree on one point - the necessity for citizens, and especially students, to raise their voices in order to achieve justice in society.In the question and answer session, interesting questions were raised about the ideological trend of the student movements in the 1960's in comparison to the non-partisan student movement arising in LUMS in the twenty-first century.

With regard to the article "LUMS students refuse to meet BB", whichappeared in the News International's Tuesday, November 13th edition.The LUMS Student Movement asserts that it appears that the article isbased on sources which have either ingeniously or ingenuouslymisrepresented events. All that is clear that the facts of the matterhave been completely twisted, as represented in the article. Muhtarma's Benazir Bhutto's invitation for a conference withrepresentatives of the LUMS students movement was not at all broughtto the LUMS campus by any US journalists. In fact, no US journalisthas even visited the campus in recent memory. The invitation was, in fact, brought to our students through a PPP party worker who isrelated to one of the student protestors at LUMS. Furthermore, themeeting with Muhtarma Benazir Bhutto was not in fact canceled on anypretext such as the final exam of the students, nor did "LUMS students refuse to meet BB". That is a gross misrepresentation of the realfacts. The meeting was actually called off by the PPP itself, as itcould not be fitted into the schedule for Monday night. The reasonthat LUMS students gave for not being able to accept the invitation at a future date was that not having a student leader structure, throughwhich nominated representatives of the student body can hold meetingswith individuals or groups on behalf of the rest of the student body,it was in fact not in the power of any participant to accept theMuhtarma's invitation on behalf of the student body. However, LUMSstudents certainly desire an opportunity to interact with a prominentpolitical figure of Muhtarma Benazir Bhutto's stature and would be honoured if she would accept their invitation to visit LUMS andaddress the student body as a whole as a guest of the Law and PoliticsSociety of LUMS, which has organised similar seminars in the past.

Press Release of the LUMS Student movementAs our movement gains in strength, support, momentum and therefore,media attention, the students of the protest movement at the Lahore University of Management Sciences would like to clarify our position on a number of points.Our movement is fundamentally a non-partisan, civil society movement which was begun by students last week as a spontaneous reaction against the imposition of a state of emergency in our country. We are united in a clear and principled commitment to the reinstatement ofthe judiciary and the restoration of the Constitution and of basic civil rights, the release of illegally detained prisoners and an end to preposterous curbs on the media. Our aim is to uphold and defend the autonomy of the judiciary in Pakistan. As we increase communication with students from other educational institutions in thecountry, we are confident and hopeful that we can all unite behind a particular principle - the critical necessity of the sovereignty of the judiciary for sustainable political and social development in Pakistan.With regard to recent invitations to meetings with prominent political figures, we would like to assert that our student movement is a civils ociety initiative which is completely non-partisan, having no affiliation with any political party and no future ambition of forming one. Nor have our actions in any way been in accordance with the directives or motivation of any political leader. The participants of our studentmovement are all private individuals, with a diverse range of personal political leanings. As we have no student leaders who are invested with the right of representing the political leanings of a particular group of students, it is not within the power of any participant of our movement to accept an invitation to meet with representatives of political parties on behalf of other students.We would like to stress that anyone from the student movement who engages in a 'dialogue' or interaction with political parties, their agents or their student wings, does so solely in her/his personal capacity and does not, by any means, represent the student body of LUMS or the student community at large.The purpose of our student movement is solely to rally around particular issues or principles and increase awareness of Pakistan's socio-political realities in the student body. However, as university students, we are always very eager to widen our horizons and meet with different political figures. Our Law and Politics Society (LPS) frequently invites eminent personalities of politics, academia, the social sector and the media, and arranges seminars as an opportunity for the student body to intellectually engage with these individuals and benefit from their knowledge and experience. In the recent past,we have hosted such prominent figures as Mr. Talat Hussein (of Aaj TV), Mr. Imran Khan and Justice Jawad Khwaja. In the coming months before the elections, the Law and Politics Society plans to invite leading figures from major political parties to talk to our student body about their manifestos and ideas for Pakistan's development. Some politicians, such as Mr. Imran Khan, with whom we have had the opportunity to interact, have already been invited for a seminar prior to the elections.As far as the recent invitation by Muhtarma Benazir Bhutto is concerned, while it is not within the power of any individual or group of students to accept the invitation on behalf of the student movement, it would be a pleasure for our Law and Politics Society to host the Muhtarma as a guest speaker at a seminar with the entire student body, should our invitation be accepted.With regard to the comment from Mr. Muhammad Islam of the Islami Jamiat-e Tuleba:-"Muhammad Islam said IJT would launch a massive awareness campaignamong students to mobilize them against the state of emergency in thecountry. He informed that the Islami Jamiat-e Tuleba was in contactwith students of other universities including LUMS and FAST-NU."(Students invoke black, week, armbands to protest. Khalid Khattak, The News International)We would like to clarify that there have been no dealings between the student movement at our university and the Islami Jamiat-e Tuleba in an official capacity. We cannot, of course, comment on the activities of any private individual from our university, who has engaged withthe IJT in a purely personal capacity.